Wachtell and Alston Top H1 2025 Financial Services M&A Legal Advisory List

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Alston & Bird are the top M&A legal advisers in the financial services sector for H1 2025, according to GlobalData. Wachtell advised on deals worth $54.3bn, securing the top position in terms of value, while Alston led in deal volume with 24 transactions. Latham & Watkins secured the second position in terms of deal value with $41bn, followed by Cravath, Swaine & Moore with $37.8bn.

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Alston & Bird have emerged as the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the financial services sector for the first half of 2025, according to GlobalData. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz advised on deals worth $54.3bn, securing the top position in terms of value. Alston & Bird, on the other hand, led in deal volume, advising on a total of 24 transactions during the six-month period [1].

Latham & Watkins secured the second position in terms of deal value by advising on transactions worth $41bn. Cravath, Swaine & Moore followed with $37.8bn in deals, while Kirkland & Ellis and Paul Hastings advised on deals worth $28bn and $24.3bn, respectively. In terms of deal volume, Kirkland & Ellis ranked second with 19 deals, while White & Case followed with 17 deals, and both Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Debevoise & Plimpton advised on 15 deals each [1].

GlobalData lead analyst Aurojyoti Bose noted that Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz was the top adviser by value in H1 2024 and managed to retain its leadership position by this metric in H1 2025 as well. The firm registered more than 25% year-on-year growth in the total value of deals advised by it during H1 2025. Alston & Bird saw more than 30% growth in the total number of deals advised by it during H1 2025 compared to H1 2024 [1].

References:
[1] https://www.retailbankerinternational.com/news/top-fs-ma-legal-advisors-h1-2025/
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/csm-kirkland-ellis-lead-h1-083949107.html
[3] https://www.law360.com/articles/2367041/latham-and-cravath-steer-730m-zimvie-take-private-deal